GREEN fingered people from Bolton could become lawbreakers because of Government failure to make provision for a new law on dangerous chemicals, claims a local Euro MP.

A range of garden weedkillers and pesticides were withdrawn from shops at the end of July because of growing concern about their consequences for human health and insect life in gardens and rivers.

The products can be legally used until the end of December, but gardeners must dispose of them by the end of March next year.

Local authorities will be responsible for enforcing the law, and gardeners using the products after Christmas, or storing them after next March, could face a maximum fine of £5,000.

But MEP Chris Davies fears Bolton Council has not been given proper guidance to handle the disposal of dangerous garden chemicals, and that most gardeners have no idea that their use will become illegal.

The Liberal Democrat MEP is concerned that many of the products will end up being poured down drains, or thrown into bins to end up on landfill sites, where they risk causing greater environmental damage than if used normally.

Mr Davies said: "These new restrictions are good news for the environment. If products cannot be shown to be safe then they simply should not be on the market.

"But it is no use at all for British ministers to sign up to reforms like these and then fail to make provision to have the new law implemented."

Among the withdrawn products are lawn weedkillers containing Dichlorprop, a chemical known to be harmful to fertility and aquatic life.

"The Government has had 12 years to prepare for this moment and now it is dumping the problem on local councils at the very last moment."